News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-10-13

notation that can be found in first-class houses
III the East. The National Park is several
square miles in extent, embraces every variety
OF scenery, and is made accessible by numer-
Gus roads and bride paths, which have been
constructed by the Government at large eX-
pense The rivers and lakes are full of fish,
and the forests of game. The average altitude
OF the valley, which fills most of the Park, is
4,5O0 feet, and roads have been built north
ward TO Devils Lake, a very deep piece of
water, hemmed in by PERCEPTIONS cliffs, and
watched over by the Devils Head, an immense
and abrupt peak, so lofty as to be seen far out
upon the eastern plains, towering above all the
other mountains in its neighborhood.
we passed down the eastern slope of the
Rocky mountains i'll the night, and, when
morning dawned, we were far out upon the
plains, the only suggestion of the tremendous
system through which we had passed being the
sight of lofty peak or two resting like clouds
upon the western horizon. The contrast be
tween the mountains and the plain is mort
strlklng-the prairies are undoubtedly mono
tonous after the immense variety of the Sci
Kinks and Rockies, butncvertheess have much
that Is novel and interesting. Travelling
across the vast stretches of Alberta Assiniboin
and Manitoba is like q voyage at seattle
prospect is completely unbroEen, and the
silence is profound. The luxuriant soil If the
plains nourishes the most beautiful flow
ers. At every station we descended to pick
the blooms of delicate blue, yellow, crimson
and salmon tints which filled the landscape
with thick masses of color. Prairie dogs and
Sophers sat at the edge of their burrows to see
us pass and served when we stopped as
marks for the revolvers of the passengers, who
got much sport thereby, and did not harm the
animals at all, as far as could be observed. IN
the distance appeared, from time to time,
herds of antelope, and plainly marked path
ways, crossing the track and stretching out of
sight to north and south, showed where a Buff
faln had rptrnat cd into still ia t-
nesses before the presence of their enemy, the
white man. Great herds of cattle were often
met. slowly moving westward, attended by
half-breed drivers and canvass-cOvered wagons,
their movements directed by pack of wOlfish
looking d gs, which hung upon the outskirts
of the herd and snapped and snarled at its re-
luctant or delaying members. At Medicine
Hat we cross the Saskatchewan, broad and
turbid stream, spanned by steel bridge 1910
feet long Medicine Hat-named after once
famous Indian doctor who bore this euphoni-
Gus title-is a thriving town, the centre of n
and the headquarters of q detach-
ment of the famous mounted police,
whose efforts. st;s-sst iiises independent, again
assisted by the forces of the United States
army across the border, have had salutary
effect in subduing and keeping in order the
native tribes. Members of the force were seen
lounging around the railway station-stalwart
fellows in scarlet coats and huge tOp-bOOts,
and with the pork-pie caps so much affected
by the British soldiery cooked upon their
heads at the perilous angle which the ragula-
tons seem to prescribe. Looking at these
troopers, one might fancy himself regarding
a London group of soldiers-they would have
been quite an fat if set down at once in Pail
Mall or Trafalgar square. Near them were
knots of the Indians whom they are stationed
here to quell-grave-lOokinG savages, with
yellow painted foreheads red ears, checks i'll
alternate stripes of blue and white, wearing
costumes like crazy quilt rainbow They
have abandoned the occupation of taking the
white mans scalp, and turned their efforts to
acquiring the white mans money by the sale
of polished buffalo horns and other curiosities.
They are thrifty bargainers, and drive brisk
trade with the tourists who pass to and fro
over the line.
From Maple Greek. three stations below, TO
Secretan. distance of 265 miles, the country
is alive with wild fowl. Ducks, geese, pelicans,
snpe and curlew are encountered in every lake.
pond and pool of water, and afford the passen-
gers plenty OF sport at no cost to themselves,
in popping at them with revOlYerS. The tiOcks
of curlew that were encountered darkened the
shores of the lakes, and although the present
is the breeding season, and most of the birds
are mStvating further to the North, a hunter
would have here all the sport he cOnld wish
for. From Swift Current to Secretan, some
seventy miles, we essayed the locomotive S
pilot again, and enjoyed until dark the sensa-
ton of whirllng ever the broad prairie under
the blazing sky of a brilliant sunset. 1t was
very amusing to watch the antics of the gOph-
ers and prairie dogs, which build their nests
in the earth throughout the whole region, and
even burrow in vast numbers between the ties of
the road itself. To these creatures the locomO-
tive, and the strange creatures upon 1t, SEEM
ed to afford constant surprise and fascina-
ton. They would stand bolt upright
upon their hind legs until the cow-catcher
almost touched them, and then, evil
IDENTIFY satisfied that the day of judgment was
at hand, would dive into their holes with
Imaginable precipitation. Occasionally one,
trusting vainly in his powers of foot, would
turn tail and scuttle down the track with
great rapidly, only to be caught up with
almost Immediately and oyerrun by the roar